Narrowboat Adagio

Looking to find some motto . .

Es un viaje, no un destino   ?

Destinatum iter est non

Think I prefer the Spanish!

Well, we picked probably the hottest weekend of the year for a family gathering on Adagio.  It was Dad’s 80th birthday and we celebrated with a cruise up to Honeystreet and back. We visited the Hourglass pub next-door for a meal as well as the Golden Swan in Wilcot plus, of course, the Vaults in town for a pie n a pint!

Flags out for the State Visit!

The Birthday Boy opens his dozens of cards and presents!

The brothers get to meet and talk “boats”

Chris gets to steer . .

Sharon enjoying the cruise

Adagio approaching the Barge Inn, Honeystreet  . .

Mum & Dad enjoying the midday pint.

More beer? Yes a rendezvous in the Vaults on Saturday.

Viv’s workmate, Rachel came along on Saturday for a short sail down to Devizes Wharf and back – stopping for an ice-cream. Daddy, Bob and young son, Rhys came too.  It was very hot but it cooled down as we sailed down the K&A canal. They got on well with our dog, Toby.  Who didn’t seem so keen to leap off the boat. All a bit strange for young Rhys but I think he enjoyed it (well apart from the horn sounding!).  The ice-creams were most welcome – thanks Rachel!

Well, it was a hot day – 28 inside the boat!

Playing “I-Spy on the water”

Well, it’s now July and we’ve had the odd weekend on board – just to get away from the house. Done some chores … Viv’s painted the roof boxes, I’ve done some rust painting and have now installed the wireless remote thermostat programmer for the boiler.  We have new neighbours, Chris & Louise on Nog – a nice boat. A lot of friends, work colleagues and family all due to visit with us over the next 2 months  … Rachel, Bob & Rhys this weekend, then it’s the big 80th do for my Dad on the 24th. Then we’ve Jenny & Penny and Anne-Marie & Pierre coming over in August … all go.

September 12th will see us on board and getting ready for the big trip, off on the 13th to Yelvertoft.  Goodbye to Devizes – which has been a smashing marina and a great town to visit.

Just a quick 24 hr trip to the boat – weather looked good – in fact Sunday it went Scorchio! Got the satellite dish working OK. Walked down to the Vaults pub on Saturday – always interesting beers. A short chug down to town on Sunday (30 mins each way) plus a tricky wind (3-point turn!).  The canal seemed very oily – there was a lot of rain on Saturday …

 

4 days later, Adagio is re-launched back into the marina.  The hull has been scraped, scrubbed and pressure-washed and then several coats of bitumen applied – many thanks to Alex Roker (07595027310) for his hard work and very approachable manner. Here’s 2 pix of the stern (with that Axiom propeller) and the bow (with a view through the bowthruster):

Lots of mussels and detritus to be cleaned off … back on Thursday for the re-launch.

Me and my neighbour, Beryl, look on as the boat is whisked up the ramp!

Beryl leaves her boat New Era this week for a new life (at 84!) on dry land.  She only started living on board at 80. A keen lass indeed and we’ll miss her.

Her boat is on sale via Devizes marina:

http://www.devizesmarina.co.uk/propertyDetails.php?pid=464169

It’s the late May Bank Holiday and we’re onboard, ostensibly to drive the boat over to the yard for re-blacking on Monday.  Chance to sample the delights of The Vaults beer & cider festival (twice!), check out the George & Dragon in Rowde (awfully nice). And also try at just living on board without driving the boat anywhere.

On Sunday we walked along the canal from Seend to Gile’s wood – nice  stretch with plenty of boats and a fishing competition.

Toby got to have a swim & we saw a swan family, complete with wee cygnets.

The boat gets its hull re-blacked tomorrow – hopefully I’ll get to video it being trailered out of the marina!